New Recording – Edge of Blue

A new Roy Forbes recording is a rare occurrence. Roy doesn’t pop ‘em out every year or so. He takes his time, working slowly to get it right. Edge of Blue may just be the Vancouver singer-songwriter’s best yet – a summation by an artist who has been doing this for a long time. On this album both Roy’s roots and routes are showing; the influences he’s absorbed and where he’s been. Edge of Blue is ten songs full of wisdom, confessions, vulnerability, sensuality, self-reflection and celebration. More of a soul album than country or folk; it has nothing to do with what is ‘hip’ and ‘happening’ in the mainstream music business. This is art song – memorable words, compelling compositions, spare production and a voice every bit as original as when the “kid full of dreams” first came to town almost fifty years ago – pure Roy Forbes. More about Roy and Edge of Blue.

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With over a dozen recordings to his name, Roy Forbes has etched himself in the hearts and minds of countless fans across Canada. While some are out of print, others are available for purchase and streaming. Read More

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Roy Forbes – Bio

Roy Forbes is one of Canada’s best loved songwriters and performing artists. He’s been at it for over fifty years now and has picked up some tokens of appreciation from his peers along the way. There is a street named after him in his hometown of Dawson Creek in Northern B.C. and a star on Vancouver’s Granville Street where the names of the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame members are enshrined. Over the years, Roy has had a couple of Juno nominations and has a handful of WCMA awards on his shelf. In 2021, he received a CFMA ‘Producer of the year’ nomination for his work on his current album, Edge of Blue.

Mainly, and more importantly, Roy is firmly etched in the minds of thousands, tens of thousands in fact, of music lovers across the country. Some remember a skinny kid who went under the name of Bim, others the more mature man who reclaimed his ‘real’ name. Some got to know him at festivals from Faro in the Yukon to Lunenburg in Nova Scotia, as Roy trod the boards from the seventies to a stellar finale performance at the fortieth anniversary edition of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. For others it was at a myriad of folk clubs and concert stages.  For still others it was Roy as a member of a contemporary folk supergroup- UHF- where he joined forces with Shari Ulrich and Bill Henderson. For some it was Roy’s searing rendition of Hank Williams’ So Lonesome I Could Cry, for others his sweet treat Christmas anthem- Mince Meat Tart, or Lifting My Heart, while others heard him second hand through Shawn Colvin’s cover of Talk Around Town, one of the many recordings of his songs by other artists. Roy has made his mark for generations of listeners as a solo, band leader, ensemble member, interpreter, and songwriter. This is not to mention his work as a record producer, film composer, songwriting mentor, radio host at CBC Radio & CKUA, and popular music historian of 78 RPM records. Over the last five decades Roy has had a few brushes with fame and endured, becoming an organic part of Canadian music.

The last few years have been a challenge. Having dealt with poor vision all his life, Roy was blinded by an accident in 2015. He may have lost his sight but not his vision. Roy adapted to his new reality relatively quickly, returning to touring, performing, and recording, and all the other things he does so well.

As Roy began getting used to a life without sight. New songs began to emerge. Ten of those songs became the core of his current record, Edge of Blue, something like his 11th solo effort.

Edge of Blue may just be the Vancouver singer-songwriter’s best yet- a summation by an artist who has been doing this for a long time. Edge of Blue is 10 songs full of wisdom, confessions, vulnerability, sensuality, self- reflection, and celebration. This is art song- memorable words, compelling compositions, spare production, and a voice every bit as original as when the “kid full of dreams” first hit the big city over fifty years ago- pure Roy Forbes.

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Roy Forbes – Recordings


Striking Matches LIVE! (2014)

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Some Tunes for that Mother of Mine (2006)

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UHF II (1994)

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UHF (1990)

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Roy Forbes – Critical Acclaim

The St. Paul Press & Dispatch

"a folkie's sense of tradition and commitment and a full-blown rocker's sense of dynamics."

The Vancouver Province

"The writing is intelligent, insightful, lyrical and uncannily wise as to the ways of the human condition ... there is a heart tugging honesty in Roy Forbes' voice to which I, at least, never fail to respond. There is also the pure joy of singing."

The Toronto Star

It has never been anything less than a major pleasure to listen to new songs by Forbes, a craft-conscious writer who remains one of the truest troubadours in the Canadian mosaic.

The Times Colonist (Victoria)

He's absorbed all of his influences and developed into a totally original, dynamic, exciting performer of deeply resonant lyrics. He's a Canadian hero.

The Ottawa Citizen

"it's a voice that sounds timeless and brand new"

The Regina Leader Post

"simply as good as music gets."

The Ottawa Citizen

"if you've never heard a robin weep, you've never heard Roy Forbes."

The Toronto Star

"a high keening voice that has no equal in popular music."